Talking Peace: This week in global diplomatic negotiations

The United Nations Human Rights Council has awarded seats to China, Cuba, Russia and Saudi Arabia, among other nations notorious for human rights abuses. And while US-Iran relations last week threatened to come between the United States and Saudi Arabia, Israel has is making this week’s open criticisms.

Syria peace negotiations may be back on and set to take place on December 12, according to Russian and Syrian officials, while Israeli and Palestinian authorities appear to be moving further away from negotiations of their own.

Here’s what to keep an eye on:

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations has awarded three-year seats on its Human Rights Council, including China, Cuba, Russia and Saudi Arabia, despite heavy criticism over human rights abuses and restrictions on freedoms.

Samantha Power, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said the some of the new members “commit significant violations of the rights the council is designed to advance and protect," and called the election a “reminder that the council's work remains unfinished.”

The election for membership, which happens annually, was held in the 193-nation UN General Assembly, and would make the new countries active members from 2014 through 2016.

"With the return of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Cuba, human rights defenders will have their work cut out for them at the Human Rights Council next year," said Peggy Hicks of Human Rights Watch.

Iran and Syria reportedly planned to run for the Council as well, but decided not to following criticisms of their rights records.

ISRAEL/PALESTINE

Just a day after new plans for Israeli settlements in the West Bank were said to be putting strain on Palestinian/Israeli peace talks, Israel has raided Gaza reportedly in retaliation for mortar strikes on Thursday.

Israel on Tuesday announced development plans to build 20,000 housing units in West Bank settlements, an announcement that surprised and concerned US officials.

"Our position on the settlements is quite clear: We do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity," said Jen Psaki, State Department spokeswoman.

Palestinian officials are now thinking about appealing to the United Nations, as they see the announcement as "an official Israeli declaration that they've decided to terminate the peace process and the negotiations."

In the meantime, Israeli warplanes had attacked Gaza and Israeli troops have entered the strip with tanks, according to Al Jazeera, in response to two rockets Israel said had been fired from the strip and landed in vacant areas.

SYRIA

The Kremlin announced yesterday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have proposed a peace conference to end Syria’s civil war, now set to take place on December 12th.

Though the US and Russia have been trying to schedule a peace conference in Geneva since May the attempted date scheduled for this month was once more postponed.

But, Putin has reportedly "emphasized efforts taken by Russia together with its partners to prepare a Geneva-2 international conference and gave a positive assessment of Bashar Assad's readiness to send a Syrian government delegation there.”

The Western-backed Syrian National Coalition, a group Putin and Assad have accused of standing in the way of talks before, said on Monday it would “only attend the Geneva talks if humanitarian aid is allowed to reach besieged areas and the government releases political prisoners.” The opposition group is also fighting for any future transitional government to exclude President Assad and his allies. The Syrian government has not yet agreed to these demands.

ISRAEL/US/IRAN

US Secretary of State John Kerry this week warned Israel that a failure to reach a final peace agreement with Palestinians could further damage the country’s standing, leading to a “third intifada,” and “international isolation.”

Israel’s response, which came just a few days later in the form of a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized US efforts to negotiate with Iran and called on American Jews to make their disapproval known as well.

Some are now saying that Netanyahu’s continues attempts to “pour cold water” on negotiations with Iran, which have included the United Nations Permanent five plus one, could drive an even bigger wedge in the US-Israeli alliance.